Porcelanosa, a premiere European manufacturer of ceramic and porcelain tile, has announced its plans to renovate its flagship showroom in the Commodore Criterion building in Midtown Manhattan. To complete the job, they brought in Foster + Partners to conceptualize a refurbished space that respects the historic aspects of the building’s facade while updating the interior. The new design enhances the experience of the expansive showroom inside, while radically improving the space’s energy performance.

Foster + Partners is aiming for a LEED Gold rating for the project, which they expect will be completed by spring 2014. The sustainable agenda includes design features such as a highly-insulated envelope to halve carbon emissions, as well as new free-cooling systems that will provide a 40 percent reduction in water use. The firm will also be recycling half of all construction waste.

Manuel Prior, US Branch Director for Porcelanosa, commented that, “As a staple of New York’s Flatiron district for years, the Commodore Criterion is the ideal location for Porcelanosa’s new flagship showroom as the neighbourhood is the epicentre of New York’s architecture and design community.”